I wonder how many times the older woman has tried to play matchmaker with the Omegas here.
Luckily for Mari, it’s going to work this time.
“Can you watch the front desk with Maeve please, Mari? We could also use your help with inventory for the donations we just received. It’s an anonymous donor, again.”
“Sure thing, honey,” Mari says. “Nice meeting you, dear!” she says to me, then heads past us to the front desk.
“Sorry about that,” my scent match sighs once Mari’s out of earshot. “She likes to meddle in everyone else’s affairs. That was unprofessional of her and doesn’t reflect how we run this place.”
I shrug. “I don’t mind. Everyone I’ve spoken to has been friendly so far. Even if the pet quiz from Maeve was a little strange.”
Blair laughs, and I’m startled by my body’s reaction to the sound. My heartbeat races, and my breath catches. Her joy is beautiful.
“Maeve means well, too. When someone comes in to adopt, we want to make sure they don’t have any intention of returning them unless absolutely necessary,” she explains. She turns the knob to the door of the playroom, and I follow her inside.
Immediately, I’m greeted by chaos.
Through the glass door, I had noticed kittens playing and running around in blurs of fur. But once I step inside, a chorus of mews sound from all of them, and a plethora of kittens trot my way.
I can’t help but smile. I crouch down and am met with a bunch of pink noses rubbing against my hand and exposed bellies ready to be pet.
“They think you have treats,” Blair informs me fondly. “They’ll leave you alone once they realize you don’t.”
An orange-and-cream-colored cat has decided my hand is the treat, and tiny fangs chomp on my palm while their feet kick at me, similar to a rabbit.
“That’s a very good sign,” Blair adds. “You’re a natural with them.”
I look up at her, studying her expression. She’s polite, but still slightly guarded and unsure. Her scent isn’t as strong as before, but it’s still tantalizing and delicious.
Yet she doesn’t look at me like I’m her match. She looks at me like a stranger that’s hoping to adopt a cat.
Maybe she doesn’t realize we’re scent matches.
Maybe her leaving so abruptly earlier had nothing to do with me at all.
The thought makes me sick.
Am I the only one who realizes what’s happening here?
How do I even approach that conversation?
“Hi, I heard you were hot and wanted to meet you. Also, I wanted a cat. Oh, and hey, did you know we’re scent matches, too?”
That’s not going to fly.
“Are all these guys available for adoption?” I ask instead.
She nods. “Every cat here is. We recommend adopting kittens in pairs, but if you’re looking for adult cats, depending on their temperament, you can just adopt one.”
I release the kitten that was feasting on my hand and raise an eyebrow. “Wow. There are more rules than I thought.”
Blair nods. “I wouldn’t call themrules, but we want to make sure that every cat here goes home to the right person andsituation. Pets aren’t accessories, or something you abandon when things grow difficult. Unfortunately, some people don’t understand that.”
I stand to face her and am assaulted by her scent again.
Even though it’s muted, that violent aroma still torments me.
But the more I look into her guarded eyes, the more I wonder if she doesn’t feel this at all.
